Cheshire County NH

Biographical Sketch of William Randall

William Randall came to Chesterfield from Cranston, R. I., about 1780. His children were Eleazer, Anthony, Benajah, and Esther. Eleazer married Martha Staples, and settled in Chesterfield on land given him by his father. His children were Roxana, Prusha, Diana, Nathan, and Eleazer. The latter, born August 4, 1796, married Clarissa, daughter of Benjamin Wheeler, in 1815. He resided marfy years in this town, on the farm on which his fatherin-law had settled, now owned by William L. Clegg. He died in Westmoreland, June 17, 1860. He had born to him eight children, namely: Diana, Roxana, Eleazer, Sarah Harris, Shubel … Read more

Fitzwilliam, Cheshire County, New Hampshire History

Fitzwilliam, one of the southern tier of townships in the county, lies in lat. 42º 45 and long. 4º 54′, bounded north by Troy and Jaffrey, east by Jaffrey and Rindge, south by the state line, and west by Richmond. The town was originally granted by the Masonion proprietors, as Monadnock No. 4, January 15, 1752, to Roland Cotton and forty-one others. These grantees, however, failed to comply with the requirements of the charter and thus forfeited their right to the territory, and it was subsequently, early in 1765, re-granted to Samson Stoddard and twenty-three associates. On May 19, 1773, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Sumner Warren

Sumner Warren, son of Increase Warren, of Westmoreland, married Luthera Willard, of Charlestown, N. H., September 30, 1841. He resided many years in Chesterfield Factory, was a tanner, and very successful in business; was noted for promptness, probity and liberality in all his dealings. He was town clerk in 1845 and contributed largely toward the building of the Union church, and lately resided in Keene. He had five children, three of whom died young. The eldest, Lyman H., born June 26. 1842, enlisted, in September, 1861, in the 17th Regt., U. S. Infantry, distinguished himself for cool ness and indomitable … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Nathaniel Kingsbury

Nathaniel Kingsbury settled in the northern part of this town at an early day. He married four times. His son Abijah married Abigail, daughter of deacon Abijah Wilder. Josiah, one of his eleven children, married Eloise, daughter of Zadock and Sarah (Black) Taft, and resides in Keene. William Black, grandfather of Mrs. Josiah Kingsbury, was a pensioner of the Revolution, and the latter has some of the continental money which was paid to him.

Biographical Sketch of Hezekiah Munsell

Hezekiah Munsell, who was at the battle of Bunker Hill, married Irene Byssell, and reared eleven children. Elisha, his seventh son, served in the war -of 1812, married twice, first, Polly Hurd, second, Lucy C. Sibley, and had born to him twelve children. Six are now living, and his widow resides in Keene.

Biographical Sketch of Rev. Sullivan H. McCollester

Rev. Sullivan H. McCollester, son of Silas and grandson of Isaac, was born in this town December 18, 1826, and is now a resident of Dover, N. ii, though he still owns a part of the ancestral estate, He is a graduate of the Cambridge Divinity school, and was given the degree of D. D., by the St Lawrence university, in June, 1874. Mr. McCollester has traveled extensively and is widely known as an educator.

Benjamin Willis Genealogy

Benjamin1 Willis, who d. at Keene, Mar. 22, 1820, aged 80, was probably the father of Benjamin2, 1, of Sullivan. 1. Benjamin2 Willis, son of Benjamin1, was a farmer and res. Keene and Sullivan; d. in Sullivan, Aug. 26, 1837, aged 75; m. Mar. 17, 1785, Annis Briggs b. Norton, Mass., Sept. 25, 1759, d. Sullivan, Jan. 22, 1831; dau. of Elisha and Mary Briggs of Keene. Ch. b. Keene: Mary3 (christened Polly), b. Mar. 17, 1785; m. John Newman (q. v.) Sarah3, b. 1789; m. Robert. Hall (q. v.) Annis3, b. May 25, 1794. Asenath3, b. unk.; d. Keene, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hugh Mason

Hugh Mason, a native of Watertown, Mass„ moved to Marlboro, in 1794, was a pensioner of the Revolution, married for his first wife, Elizabeth Clark, who bore him eleven children. He married for his second wife, Lydia Moore, who bore him one child. Clark, son of Hugh, married twice, first, Eunice Adams, who bore him four children, and second, Almira Towne, and had born to him eleven children. His son William Clark Mason married Susan W., daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Warren Page, of Marlboro, has one son living, and resides in Keene. Charles Page served in the war of … Read more

Biography of Bethel Field

The ancestors of the Field family, of Chesterfield, were of old Puritan stock, who settled in Taunton, Mass., early in colonial times, where many of their descendants still live. Bethuel, son of Nathaniel Field, of Taunton, married Sally Lincoln, of Norton, Mass., and settled in Chesterfield, in 1819 or ’20. “He was somewhat given to accounts, being a ‘Squire,’ and a prominent man in town matters.” He died in 1847, Mrs. Field surviving him until 1867. Jessie Field, one of their ten children, born November 3, 1811, inherited his mother’s refined sensibilities and his father’s good sense and mental acumen; … Read more

Baptist Church of Alstead New Hampshire

In December 1790, a Calvinist Baptist church was organized at the Center, which became quite large and was for many years very prosperous. At length, in connection with the Universalist society, formed in May, 1820, they erected a church building at Alstead village and finally became extinct.

Biographical Sketch of Captain Abram Moore

Captain Abram Moore, a pensioner of the Revolution, was a native of Bolton, Mass. His son Abram married Julian Holmes, of Upton, Mass, reared seven children, and finally settled in Dublin. His son, Orson H., married Sarah E. Southwick, of Marlboro, and has one son, Fred W. He resides on the home farm, with George W.

Biographical Sketch of David Townsend

David Townsend, a pensioner of the Revolution, came to what is now Harrisville, from Lynn, Mass., and settled upon the farm where Jabez Townsend now lives. His son Charles M. now occupies a farm in this town, on road 15.

Early Manufacturing, Alstead New Hampshire

Messer Bros.’ turning and planing mill, located in East Alstead, was built for a grist and carding mill, about 100 years ago. About 1862 it came into the possession of William H. Messer, and of the present owners in 1881. They employ six hands in the manufacture of baby-carriage spokes, sapspouts, pails, knife handles, etc. E. P Kidder’s saw-mill and rake factory, located it East Alstead, was originally built for a starch factory, by a Mr. Kidder about fifty years ago, and came into the present proprietor’s hands in 1858. He employs six men and manufactures about 100,000 feet of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. S. M. Dinsmore

Dr. S. M. Dinsmore was born in Antrim, N. H., June 22, 1836, graduated as an M. D. March, 1860, from Columbian university, of Washington, D. C., practiced medicine in Sullivan and Hillsboro counties for twenty years, and located in Keene in 1881, where he now resides.

Chesterfield Factory, Cheshire County NH

CHESTERFIELD FACTORY is a busy post village located on the outlet of the lake. It has one church, two stores, one hotel, a village hall, brushhandle factory, bit and auger factory, sash and blind factory, pail factory, grist-mill, wagon shop, shingle-mill, wheel-head and spinning -wheel shop, a steam saw-mill, blacksmith shop, and about seventy-five dwellings. The village hall was built in 1868, at a cost of about $2,500. A portion of the funds were raised by subscription, but when completed a debt of $1,600 remained, about $1,000 of which has since been paid by the Ladies’ Union Society. The hall … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Artemas Bailey

Artemas Bailey was born in Lunenburg, Mass., January 17, 1800, and married Clarissa Billings. He was a book-binder, and carried on that business in his native place for several years. He moved with his family to Keene, in 1830, and worked at the same business here for several years. He had three children, two of whom, Lizzie A. and Adaline S., live in Keene. He died November 7, 1865, and his widow died February 2, 1893.

Biographical Sketch of Reuben B. Foster Sr.

Reuben B. Foster, Sr., was born September 9, 1812, and married Betsey, H., daughter of Richard Hopkins, June 11, 1832. He is an employee of Currier Brothers, at Chesterfield Factory. He has had born to him seven children, as follows: James M., Helen M., Mary Jane, Mahalia S., Reuben B., Frank H., and William E. Reuben B., Jr., was born March 17, 1844, married Julia A., daughter of Hosea L. Stoddard, February 16, 1869. He is a mechanic for Currier Brothers at Chesterfield Factory.

Biographical Sketch of Gustavus Cutter

Gustavus A. Cutter, was one of the three children of Charles A. and Philena, who resided on road 53. He served in the late Rebellion and was honorably discharged.

Biographical Sketch of Leonard F. Sawyer

Leonard F. Sawyer, son of Josiah, married Mary B., daughter of Albert and Mary P. (Pollard) Adams, of Rindge, and has two children-Etta ML and Ella M., twins. He is a prosperous farmer and has three Summer cottages on Contoocook lake, which borders on his farm. He has a large collection of natural curiosities, antiquities and geological specimens.

Biographical Sketch of Isaac Fisher

Isaac Fisher, from Framingham, Mass., located as a farmer in Stoddard He married twice, raising three sons and three daughters by his first wife and one son, Benjamin H., by his second. The latter has been a resident of this town for the past forty-nine years. He learned the cabinet maker’s trade in Keene, and, after working here one year for Stephen Kittredge, began business for himself. He married Mahala B. Edson, in 1837, and six of a family of eight children are now living, all of whom except the youngest, Flora E who resides with her parents, have married … Read more